Pregnant

“Pregnant.” This may just be the word you are looking for. You may be trying to get pregnant or perhaps you are wondering if you could be pregnant. You may be feeling a variety of emotions regarding the possibility of pregnancy. Know that you are not alone.

Getting Pregnant

Getting pregnant is tied to ovulation and having intercourse at the appropriate time. You can use our Free Ovulation Calendar to try and determine when ovulation is occurring. With the average 28 to 30 day cycle, ovulation usually occurs between day 11 and day 21 of your cycle. Please note when you ovulate during this window may vary from month to month.

The simplest way to get pregnant is to have intercourse every other day of your cycle starting from day 10 through day 20. There is no need to have sex every day because sperm can live from 2 to 5 days in the woman’s body. However, fresh healthy sperm every other day will increase your chances of conceiving. You can read more about ovulation and preconception health for women to make getting pregnant easier.

Am I Pregnant?

There are six million pregnancies annually throughout the United States. If you think you may be pregnant, there are several symptoms you could look for. However, taking a pregnancy test is the primary way to determine if pregnancy has occurred.

Pregnant Symptoms

The first symptom of pregnancy to look for is a missed period. Other pregnancy symptoms to look for include lower backache, headaches, and spotting. Spotting can reflect the light bleeding that may occur with implantation (when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall).

Other signs of pregnancy include tender or swollen breasts, cramping, nausea, dizziness, and increased urination. Keep in mind that while these symptoms are common in pregnancy, they can be caused by other things as well. If you are experiencing these pregnant signs, you may consider taking a pregnancy test if you have not already done so.

It is recommended to wait at least until you have missed your period to take a pregnancy test. Because it takes time for the pregnancy hormone to get high enough to show up on a test, it is recommended to wait at least until you miss your period to take a pregnancy test. Otherwise you could get a false negative.

Pregnant: Sharing the News

Perhaps you received a positive result on a pregnancy test or had a doctor confirm your pregnancy. Now you may wonder how to tell your partner you are pregnant. You may feel concerned about his reaction but also wanting to think of creative ways to let your significant other know. Here are a few ideas:

Lay the positive pregnancy test in a place where only your partner will find it.

Place a pregnancy magazine on the coffee table.

Ask him what he wants for father’s day.

Let your imagination run wild. There is no “right” way to share the news with your partner. You can always enlist a friend or colleague to help pull off a bigger surprise. Just remember, this is big news. His reaction might reflect excitement, denial, or shock. Don’t let these reactions determine your interpretation of how he feels.

What about telling friends, family, or the office? The timing is yours. Again, there is no one right way to do this. You can enlist creative ways to do this as well. This is your pregnancy and you can have fun with what you share, how you share it, and when you share it.

Being Pregnant

Many people want to know what it is like being pregnant. For some women, being pregnant is miserable with strong bouts of pregnancy symptoms. Other women report amazing experiences as they go through the whole journey. You should note that the majority of people are going to fall somewhere in between.

Being pregnant varies from woman to woman, and in some cases even pregnancy to pregnancy. You can expect your body and emotions to change while being pregnant. The hormones bring changes in your body to prepare for your developing baby. These include changes to your breasts, circulatory system, and pelvic area.

This newsletter will follow you through your pregnancy providing you with information about the following:

Your developing baby

Your changing body

Things to plan for

Tips for a healthy pregnancy

Tips for your partner’s support

Pregnancy comes with discomforts, but it also comes with one of the greatest experiences of your life – having a baby. During your journey, we are here to help you have the healthiest pregnancy and healthiest baby possible. Feel free to explore the website, get prenatal care, and enjoy this pregnancy.

The American Pregnancy Association is committed to promoting healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

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The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. The purpose of this is to help with education and create better conversations between patients and their healthcare providers.